A new 2014 forecast predicts that the Dallas-Fort Worth area will be one of the top leasing markets in the country this year.

Marcus & Millichap Real Estate Investment Services says that the D-FW area will see close to 8 million square feet of net office leasing this year. Only Houston and New York are expected to see higher office space demand in 2014.

Only about 3.5 million in net office leasing was recorded in the D-FW area in 2013.

“Markets in Texas, with their exceptional forecast employment growth, will dominate the office demand index,” researchers with the commercial real estate firm say. “Expanding service industries such as Associa, Kohl’s and State Farm have boosted the Dallas-Fort Worth regional performance.”

Marcus & Millichap predicts that overall office vacancy rates in North Texas will fall to 17 percent this year, even though about 4 million square feet of new office space will hit the market.